Jelly Roll Morton – Jazz Musicians Series.

Description

Jelly Roll Morton (1890-1941) was a jazz musician, arranger, and composer who is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in early jazz. Born Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe in New Orleans, Louisiana, Morton began playing piano at an early age and soon developed a unique style that blended ragtime, blues, and other musical influences.

In 1903, Morton began playing professionally and soon became known as Jelly Roll Morton, a nickname that was given to him because of his habit of performing music with a jelly roll or cake roll. Throughout his career, Morton wrote and performed dozens of original compositions, including “Jelly Roll Blues,” “King Porter Stomp,” and “Dead Man Blues.”

Morton’s compositions and performances were hugely influential in the development of early jazz, and in 1938 he became the first jazz musician to be recorded in a commercial recording session. He also wrote an autobiography, Mister Jelly Roll, which was published in 1950 and is considered an important part of jazz history.

Morton’s music has been covered and sampled by many modern musicians and he continues to be an important figure in jazz history. He is remembered for his innovative arrangements and compositions, and for his skillful blending of different musical styles.